6/8/20, mile: 728, elevation: 9,042 ft.
Did I mention it was cold? Like f’en cold!? My thermometer watch cuts out at 30 or so, but others said it was the low 20’s. I did not sleep well, just not enough insulation for this. Too cold to sleep, too cold to get motivated to move. Not a good start for the day.
I was on the trail by 6:30 or so, before the sun burned off the frost on the meadow. While hiking, my water bottles started to freeze, and frost started to form on my mustache. I was wearing almost all of my clothes plus the puffy and my fleece gloves. It IS June, right?
For the first several miles, the trail is exposed to the wind, making the conditions worse. Out of the wind and in the sun, I got hot, only to get chilled again once it picked up again. This is only good for making miles; there was no desire to stop for a break. Once the trail left the meadow and started climbing a creek drainage, the wind disappated. I found a sunny spot next to the creek (with ice on branches next to the water) and out of the wind. Oh it was heaven. I could have napped there, but it was only like 9am or so. By this time, some of my camp mates started catching up with me. After a while I left them there and gambled to hike without the puffy…..nope. A quarter of a mile later I was stopping to put it back on. The high would only reach 45 or so for the day.
During the reunion with my puffy, Banquet and Blue Tooth passed me up. With the hills we’re now climbing, they left me in their dust. I don’t know why I’m so slow on climbs. Condition, age, pack weight? I eventually caught them at their lunch break, which I joined in on. We have been continuously hiking in the wind and it’s driving me mad. Talking with them certainly helped my mood, along with some food.
After they left me, the grade of the trail decreased, making it easier for me. It was also getting into the trees and granite, getting more and more beautiful with each new view spot. The trail topped out at 10.5k feet today, where I took the opportunity to give a big yell. Knowing it was downhill for the rest of my day certainly lifted my mood as well as the views. As I was getting back on to the trail, a hiker passed me by, but he suddenly stopped and turned. I caught up to him, looked him in the eye and we both had that ah-ha moment when we recognized each other.
His name is Dos Equis. We met at the bottom of Mt. Baden Powell after his group descended and I was staging for a morning climb (he was going southbound at the time). After a short what’s-what about our life for the last several weeks, we continued our conversation as we hike onwards. Thank Dog we were going downhill, he hikes freak’n fast. The time flew by due to the company and conversation. We ended up picking a sweet camp site next to a creek, which we both agreed is our preference. We also agree on stopping the day between 3 and 4, both of us having this nesting before sunset complex. Turns out most of the middle-aged hikers are like this. And we also like to start early. Shit, I’m getting old. Two other middle-aged hikers showed, those two also having previous thru-hiking experience. We had a good time chatting as we set up camp and cooked dinner. And then we’re all in our tents before sunset. Yes, we’re old.
Looking at the mileages, it looks like I can make it to the trailhead to exit into Lone Pine for my resupply tomorrow afternoon. I brought food for 5 days for this 45-mile section since I wasn’t sure how I’d hike at the altitude. I really need to fine-tune my food estimates.
Savior out.